"And you do not approve?"
"I do not."
"I see your reasons. Perhaps you are right. Do you wish to abandon the
girl to her fate?"
"Oh, not at all. But with more time--"
"There is no more time."
"Not to-morrow?"
"The tongs are even now in session. I have word that before morning
there will be a demand for the girl, and if she is not surrendered there
will be the reward of blood."
"You are more powerful than they," said I, remembering the scene of the
morning.
"I have passed the limits of my power," said Big Sam placidly. "What is
it you say of Russia? 'Despotism tempered by assassination?' Well, I am
but little of a despot, and the assassin has so much the better
opportunity."
"And by to-morrow you would give her up?" I asked.
"To be frank with you, I would give her up to-night, Mr. Hampden, if it
would purchase peace and safety."
I looked sharply at Big Sam, but the oriental mask gave back the record
of nothing but bland and child-like simplicity.
"Then why not?" I asked.
"There is but one girl. There are two tongs," said Big Sam.
"That makes a difficulty," I admitted. "Yet only one tong owns the
girl."
"I fear I could not explain to you the attitude and customs of the tongs
in this matter," said Big Sam with a smile. "One tong demands the
delivery of the girl, or five thousand dollars. That is the one you
would perhaps call the owner of the girl. The other demands the girl,
or twenty-five hundred dollars."
"Seventy-five hundred dollars for a girl--that is a little expensive."
"I believe some of your countrymen have paid more. Though the bargain
has not been made in so simple a fashion."
Big Sam allowed himself to smile.
"I don't see how we are to help you then," I said. "But if you think it
will put the tongs in better humor to have the girl in our custody, we
are at your service."
"This evening," said Big Sam, "I saw three dogs quarreling over a bone.
A fourth dog much larger came by and snatched it. The three dogs ceased
to quarrel and started in chase of the fourth."
"A cheerful augury," I said. "I wish no quarrel with assassins, and
least of all would I wish to bring them upon Mr. Kendrick's household."
"The fourth dog," continued Big Sam, "was larger--much larger--than the
three put together. They ceased the chase before it was fairly begun,
and joined in mourning their loss."
"You put me in doubt," said I. "I must not bring danger to others."
"I can guarantee their safety, Mr. Hampden," said Big Sam. "Your police
have impressed it thoroughly on the minds of our people that the white
race is not to be meddled with by any but white men."
I hesitated, still fearful of the dangers that might follow the custody
of the girl.
"There is then no resource but to turn the girl into the street," said
Big Sam decisively. "I can not risk my plans merely to secure her
safety."
"Nor your life," I retorted.
"Oh, a man will die when he dies. Life, death, riches, poverty--they
are man's fate. But my plans--they are much to me and my people."
Big Sam then pulled a cord that swung behind him. The door opened and
the Chinese girl, frightened and tearful, was pushed in.
"The decision is for you, Mr. Hampden," he said.